Apparatus for bending glass



W. OWEN APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS Feb. 27, 1945.

Filed Aug. 4, 1943 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 zlwue/wto'n v WILL/17M OWE/v Feb. 27, 1945.

w. OWEN APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS 5 SheeEs-Sheet 2- Filed Aug. 4, 1943 3mm \A/ILLJHM OWEN Feb. 27, 1945. w, W N 2,370,575

APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS Filed Aug. 4, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm WILL/pm 0 WEN V Asa-- Feb. 27, 1945.

W. OWEN APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS Filed Aug. 4, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wu. 4 07M 0 3mm WEN Feb. 27, 1945. O N 2,379,575

APPARATUS FOR BENDING GLASS Filed Aug. 4, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I Qvwe/wbom MLL/HM OWEN Batented Feb. 27, 1945 I 2,310,575 APPARATUS Foa assume cuss William Owen, Pittsburgh, Pa., asslgnor to Plttsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny Oolmty,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl Application August 4, 1943, Serial No. 497,818

13 Claims. (Cl. 49 -7) This invention relates to apparatus for bending sheet glass.

This application is a'continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 358,456, flied September 26, 1940.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for bending sheet glass in mold structure included in the apparatus; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross section of a mold showing in detail its interior arrangement and taken approximately along the line VI-VI of Fig. Fig; 7 is a frag'mentary plan of a portion of driving connections employed in the apparatus, a portion U of'the supporting structure therefor being shown such manner that relatively sharp curvatures can be formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for" bending glass by which sheet glass can be bent to such extent as to be in the form of almost a complete cylinder.

Another object of the invention ,is to provide an improved apparatus for bending glass by frictional engagement of sheet glas with a curved surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for heating, handling and bending sheet glass.

In one form of the invention a sheet of glassis placed upon a platform and mechanically transported into a heating chamber where it is reduced to softening temperature. Thence the sheet glass is forced edgewise across a lip of a trough-like mold and along the inner surface thereof until the glass curves to the shape of the inner mold surface. The mold can be partially cylindrical or it can be polygonal in cross section. If desired, the mold can be formed with a vacuum chamber surrounding the molding surface and suction can be applied to assist in the I bending operation after the glass has been forced into the mold. This type of bending operation obviates unfavorable differentials in thermalncoefficients of expansion between the material ofly along th line I-I of Fig. 3, of a glass bending apparatus; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section-taken substantially along the line II--II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatu taken substantially at right angles to the section as illustrated in Fig. 1 and approximately along the line III-11! of Fig. i; Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram for controlling operation of a glass transporting in the cross-section taken approximately, along the line V1I-VII'of Fig. 1; and Fig. & is a wiring diagram ior'ficont 'olling operation of mechanical elements of the apparatus.-

In practicing the invention. an apparatus frame ha rigidly secured thereon a conventional motor unit 23 disposed in driving relation with a crank shaft that has a crank disc 8| rigidly secured thereto. A connecting rod 83 has one, end thereof pivoted upon a crank pin of the-disc 8i and its other end has a pivotal connection II (Figs. 1 and '7) securing it to a block I! that is mounted slidab'ly in guides 39 of an upright arm 40. The latter arm forms a rigid actuating element for a horizontally disposed crank shaft 4|. A screw threaded rOd 43 is threaded vertically in the upper end of the arm and in the block 38 to provide for adjusting the effective length of the arm. The horizontal crank shaft 4! is rotatably mounted in bearing members 45 formed in the apparatus frame.

A series of parallel crank arms 41 extending upwardly are rigidly mounted on the crank shaft ll and have their upper ends pivotally connected, as indicated at N, to the inner ends of links 49 which have their outer ends pivotally connected, as indicated at 60, and at right angles to a horizontally disposed rail 5!. A plurality of parallel rods 53 are mounted horizontally for sliding action in bearings I formed in the frame and have end portions rigidly connected to the rail 5|. Their ends opposite the rail 5| ar secured by means of brackets 56 to horizontal pushers B7, 58 and 59. The outer or forward 4 ends of the pushers El and 59 are movable horizontally along the upper surfaces of a pair of platform sections it and II, respectively. that are heated electrically by means of resistance elements 62 energized through conductors 83. A central platform section 65, receives for sliding action thereon the central pusher 58. Reciprocation of the connecting rod 33 thus causes like reciprocation of the pushers ll, El and 59.

The three platform sections are arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, and a horizontal carriage 87 is also arranged in substantially this same plane. A pair of platens 68 carriage; Fig. 5 is a larger fragmentary plan of a I and 88 are formed as parts oi" the upp r structure of the carriage which also includes side rails 10 resting upon horizontal parallel rollers ll journalled in bearings 13 that are. formed in the frame. are provided with flanges I along which the side rails are fitted to guide the carriage in its longitudinal movement. I

The upper portion of the frame is provided with a gas heated furnace I6 having three heating chambers 11,18 and 19 (Fig. 3) in which the from the front edge of the central pusher 58v in such manner that the pushers 51 and 59 are adapted to pass to, or slightly beyond, the rear edge of the carriage 61 while the front portion of the central pusher 58 is adapted to pass over or across the carriage. Relatively long slots 80, 8| and 82 are'formed in the chambers for receiving the pushers 51, 58 and 59, respectively. Motor reversing limit switches 83 and 84 mounted on opposite extremities of the apparatus frame are actuated alternately by the carriage 61 as the latter reaches its limit of movement in opposite directions.

It is to be understood that the carriage 81 is movable in a direction at right angles to the lines of movement of the pushers and that the front edges of the latter are movable into the chambers over the surfaces of the platens 88 and 69. An endless flexible transmission member 85, which can be in the form of a sprocket chain, is trained about wheels 81 formed on the outer ends of the rollers II and arr-intermediate portion of this member is trained over'a wheel 09 connected in driving relation to a motor unit 90.

The motor unit'90 is automatically reversible-in Opposite end portions of these rollers An idler- 9| sufliciently heated, the motor unit 23 is again operated and the central pusher 58 forces the softened glass sheet across'a bridge plate 98 into a mold 91, which is in the form of approximately a one-half or three-quarter cylinder (Figs. 5 and 6), and in which an opening 98 along one side thereof defines an entrance lip 89 together with an opposite lip I00, the latter of which is provided with an inwardly disposed guiding flange WI. The bridge plate 96 constitutes a part of the apparatus frame 20 and is a part of the glass supporting platform structure.-

The interior of the mold is shaped to the curvature to which it is desired to bend the glass and it is to be understood that it can be formed to contours other than cylindrical curvatures; The mold 91 is formed with an internal chamber I02 (Fig. 6) following substantially the mold curvature and'is provided with openings I03 communicating through the inner mold wall with the inner molding area. This chamber is connected in fluid tight relation to a flexible conduit I04 which is communicable with a suitable source of vacuum or partial vacuum (not shown).

The inner surface of the mold at its entrance edge 99 registers in flush relation with the top of the bridge 96 and this bridge defines with the adjacent wall portion of the chamber I8 a slot I05 through which the glass passes when,

forced into the mold.

The mold is provided adjacent its opposite ends with pinions or gears I05 which are supported in L unit an.

(Fig. 4) can be employed in connection with the 0 operation of the motor unit 90 and switches 8384 for controlling the operation of the carriage 61. Switches R and L are included in this wiring to initiate manually the operation of the motor unit after each alternate Setting of the mechanism for reversal of such motor unit.

A plate of glass 96 is placed upon the platform section and the motor unit 23 is operated to cause the pushers to move 'toward'the heating chambers and the glass plate is thus pushed into the preheatingchamber ll upon the platen $8. In one cycle of operation of the unit 23, the pushers are moved forwardly to, and retracted from, the chambers as specified. After a predetermined period, during which the glass is preheated upon the platen 68 in the heating chamber H, the

carriage 67 is then operated by the motor unit 90 to move the platen 68 into the chamber I8 and interfitting relation upon horizontal racks I01 carried rigidly upon the frame 20. Opposite end portions of the mold are also provided with angular arms I08 having weights I09 connected to their outer ends. Likewise opposite end portions of the mold structure are provided with drums IIO, each of which receives a cable H3 secured and wound thereon. Each cable extends upwardly and is also secured and wound upon a larger section I I5 of a double or reduction pulley A smaller section H8 of each pulley unit has secured and wound thereon one end portion of a cable I20 which is directed back over All of these pulleys H8 525 carried by the frame 20. The other end portion of each cable I20 is connected, as indicated at I21, to the rear portion of the pusher structure. Each cable Q20 has an intermediate resilient section I28 which can be in the form of a coil spring.

At the beginning of the forward movement of the pushers'to force the glass sheet into the mold; the latter is then disposed in its full line position shown in Fig. l, and as the pushers move placed from the racks I01 by means of horizontally disposed guides I29 mounted rigidly upon the frame immediately above the pinions. v

The pulley sections H8 and H8 are so proportioned with respect to the pulleys H0 and to the stroke length of the pushers that the mold is moved to the broken line position (Fig. l) where it is readytoreceive the glass before the pusher moves the glass across the bridge 08, although it can be in the process. or being moved toward or across such bridge at this stage oi operation. The entrance lip 09 of the mold at this stage of the operation is stopped or abutted against the edge of the bridge with the beginning of the inner mold surface disposed in flush relation with the upper surface of the bridge. That is, the upper surface of the bridge is substantially tan- I gential to the inner curvature of the mold at the lip 99. During further movement of the pusher 58 wherein the actual bending operation takes place, the cables I are stretched in their resilient sections I28, in opposition to the additional forward movement of the rear end of the cables I20 as they are carried forward by the pusher structure.

Upon withdrawal ofthe pushers the weights I09 exert suflicient force to cause the mold to roll on the racks I01 away from the chamber opening I05 to the full line position (Fig. 1) where it is stopped by a bar I that is carried transversely and rigidly upon the racks I01. In this position the mold registers lengthwise or axially with a ram iii which is operated by fluid under pressure acting upon a piston I82 in a cylinder ltd that is carried upon the apparatus frame. Fluid under pressure is admitted through conduits I and H0 in a conventional manner and is controlled by a multiple valve I31 through which air can be supplied selectively to the two conduits. The ram forces the bent glass from the mold upon a conveyor I30 of a leer I39 of known type and through which the glass is transported and annealed. It is only necessary that the ram I3I be large enough to contact a portion of the edge of the molded glass, and hence, it is sufllciently small to pass freely by the-flange H05, or it can be semi-cylindrical.

The ram can be operated by. manually controlling the operation of the valve I3I. At substantially the completion of the forward stroke of the pusher 58, a portion of the pusher structure, e. g., a cam lug I50 on one of the members 53, actuates a switch III which is operably connected to a conventional valve I53 (Fig. 2) in the conduit I00 for controlling the flow of fluid Actuation of the switch I55 terminates each of these cycles of operation, and a push button switch IBI is included to initiate each cycle of operation. i

From this description it will be apparent that the bent glass in the mold is subjected to subatmosph ric pressure or vacuum approximately at the time the pusher 53 begins its return or back stroke and the glass is held momentarily while such back stroke is being completed. This action completes one cycle of operation of the motor unit which is automatically stopped un- V til the attendant again starts it. I

After the mold remalnsin the full line position (Fig. 1) for such period as is required to permit the glass to become cool enough to shrink and set, the attendant then can manipulate the valve I31 to move the raminto the mold to slide the bent glass therefrom and-deposit it upon the conveyor in the leer I30. Since the glass shrinks materially relative to the mold, no difliculty is experienced in sliding the glass out of the mold onto the conveyor.

Although illustrative structure incorporating the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold. of trough form having spaced lips defining an opening along one side of the mold for receiving sheet glass, a support registerable in substantially horizontal relation with the inner surface of the mold trough form having spaced lips defining an opening along one side of the mold for receiving sheet glass, a support registerable in substantially flush relation with the inner surface of the mold at one lip thereof to provide substantially continuous surfaces from the support along the inner wall of the mold, means for bringing said support and said. one lip into registering relation, heating means associated with the support for reducing the glass to softening temperature, and means for moving the sheet glass along the support into the 3. In a glass bending apparatus, a'mold of trough form having spaced lips defining an opening along one side of the mold for receiving sheet glass, heating means including a chamber disposed adjacent and opening toward the mold, a glass supporting carrier movable into and out of the chamber, actuating mechanism for moving the carrier, a device movable across the carrier into the chamber to force the glass sheet therefrom into the mold, and actuating means for moving said device.

4. In a glass bending apparatus, .a mold of trough form having entrance lips defining an opening longitudinally along one side thereof, means for supporting a glass sheet adjacent the mold, means for heating the glass sheet to softening temperature, means for moving the mold into and out of position of alignment of the opening with the supporting means, and meansfor moving the glass sheet edgewise through the opening into the mold while the mold opening is in alignment with the supporting means.

5. In a glass bending apparatus, an open ended mold of trough form having entrance lips defining an opening longitudinally along one side thereof, means for supporting a glass sheet adjacent the mold, means for heating the glass sheet to softening temperature, means for moving the mold to and awayfrom a position of alignment of said opening with the supporting means, means,

for moving'the glass sheet edgewise through the opening into the mold while said opening is in alignment withthe supporting means, a discharger alignable axially with the mold in its position away from the supporting means, for removing the bent glass from the mold, and means for operating the discharger.

6. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of trough form having entrance lips deflningan opening longitudinally along one side thereof, means for'supporting a glass sheet adjacent the mold, means for heating the glass sheet to softening temperature, track means supporting the mold in rolling relation to provide for movement thereof into and out of a position of alignment of its opening with the supporting means, said track means including horizontal racks, said mold including pinions engaging the racks, and means formoving the glass sheet edgewise through the opening into the mold while said opening is in alignment with the supporting means.

7. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of trough form having entrance lips defining an opening longitudinally along one side thereof, means for supporting a glass sheet adjacent the mold, means for heating the glass sheet to softening temperature, mechanism for moving the mold in rolling relation into and out of a position of alignment of the opening with the supporting means, means for moving the glass sheet edgewise through the opening into the mold while the mold opening is in alignment with the supporting means, and said mechanism including means associated with the mold and constantly applying force tending to roll the mold away from the glass heating means.

8. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of mold, means including a chamber opening to-' ward the mold for heating the glass sheet [to softening temperature, track means support g the mold in rolling relation to carry'the mold into and out of a position of alignment of the mold opening with the supporting means, an actuator for moving the glass sheet edgewise from the supporting means through the opening into the mold while the latter is in alignment with the supporting means. 4

9. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of trough form having entrance lips defining an opening longitudinally along one side thereof, a carrier alignable with said opening for carrying a glass sheet adjacent the mold, means for heating the glass sheet to softening temperature on thecarrier, said heating means including heating the glass sheet to. softening temperature on the carrier, said heating means including preheating and final heating chambers, said cham- ,bers having apassageway connecting them and said finalheatingchamber being open toward the mold, said carrier being movable through said passageway to carry sheet glass from the preheating chamber to the final heating chamber, actuating means for moving the carrier, mean for moving the mold into and out of position of alignment of the mold opening with the final heating chamber, and means for moving the glass sheet edgewise from the carrier in the final heating chamber through the opening into the mold while the mold opening is in alignment with said carrier. 11. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of across the carrier to push sheet glass into the mold. and means for operating the pusher struc ture, 1

12. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of trough form having entrance lips defining an opening longitudinally along'one side thereof, a

furnace open at one side toward the mold and having preheating and final heating chambers therein open to-one another, a carrier operable back and forth in the furnace for transporting sheet glass from one chamber to the other, means for operating said carrier, a platform disposed adjacent said carrier toreceive the glass, 9. pusher adjacent said furnace and movable transversely of the'directi'on of movement of the carrier and movable to and from the preheating chamber, a second pusher movable transversely of the direction of movement of the carrier to move a sheet of glass from said carrier across the latter into the mold, and means for moving said pushers.

13. In a glass bending apparatus, a mold of trough form having spaced lips defining an opening along one side of the mold for receiving sheet glass, means for supporting the sheet glass sub stantially in alignment with one lip of the mold preparatory to edgewise movement of the glass ,into the mold, heating means associated with the support for reducing the glass to softening temperature, means for moving the glass sheet along the support into the mold, and means for applyingsub-atmospheric pressure along the inner surface of the mold to hold the glass therein temporarily after the actuation of said glass into the mold.

' WHLIAM OWEN. 

